, 1887-04-24
EDUCATIONAL
interesting Proceedings of the
Cheyenne Teachers Institute.
Papers Read--D Discussions Mathe.
NAUTICAL and Other Exercises.

Inc last session Tor the present ScnoOl
year of the Cheyenne Teachers Institute
was held at the central school house yes.
terday forenoon, beginning at 10 o'clock,
Prof. j. o. Churchill, president of the
Teachers Association. in the chair. The
first Of the exercises was an interesting
mathematical lesson by Miss Patton,
which was accompanied by exercises on
the blackboard. Miss Patton referred to
the mode of teaching common, compound
and decimal fractions.
Miss Chisholm inquired whether she
would undertake to teach compound frac-
tons before the pupil was thoroughly
familiar with common fractions.
Miss Patton thought she would in some
cases.
Prof. Churchill asked what the views
of the other members of the class were.
Somebody suggested that they would
like TO hear from Miss Marion Loughen
berg on the subject, whereupon that lady
arose and explained that she would in
some cases do that. and stated that this
had been the practice in the Fredonia
IN. " normal school, and also at a sim
liar institution in Rochester, N. Y.
The entire discu~ssiou'upon this branch
of the proceedings was interesting to both
members and visitors.
Next came a picture lesson by Miss
Sara Frost. who introduced a small class
of bright young pupils for the purpose of
demonstrating how she would teach a class
in that way. A picture of u. Swiss girl
going to market and riding a donkey with
a load of flowers and vegetables was hung
upon the wall and the children were
asked to give the names of the different
kinds of vegetables which they saw in the
picture. In most cases the swe were
correct, but in regard to some of them the
class was puzzled. One little fellow who
was trying to make out what vegetables
were represented in the picture exclaimed:
well, there's an onion, anyhow and
further on in speaking of what is meant
by the word market" Miss Frost asked
a little girl what she would do if her
mother should tell her to go to the mar
ket the little one replied, "Why, l
should go down to Bresnahen's. ="
Laughter. In reply to the question as
to what nationality the little girl repre-
sented in the picture belonged. a little fell
low exclaimed She's a Swiss girl"
Why do you think she is a Swiss
grip" inquired Miss Frost. Zoos it
says she's a Swiss girl over her head
on the picter." Another laugh fol-
lowed and and an examination ofthe Die
ture showed that the boy was correct.
Later on each little pupil read the i'm
pressicns they had received from viewing
the picture which each had written on his
or her slate.
Prof Churchill then read an able and
interesting paper on the Duties of
Teachers. He believed that all teachers
should be progressive; that as much time
as possible should be devoted to reading
upon the science Of education, and con-
tended that every teacher should make
the best effort possible to adorn the pro-
fession which has honored them.
Quite an interesting discussion followed
the reading of this paper, in which the
Misses Graham, Loughenberg, Merwin,
Chisholm, Bullock, Patton, Frost, and
others participated.
Miss Laura Shultz then read an inter-
esting and well prepared paper on First
Steps in Geography" and therein the
young lady explained briefly how she
would deal with young people who are
just beginning to study geography. This
paper was replete with fine thoughts and
suggestions, and at the conclusion of its
reading another discussion ensued between
the members of the institute.
This closed the programme, and after
calling attention to some matters not
directly connected with the work of the
association, Prof. Churchill declared the
institute adjourned until next autumn.